Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is "Functional Medicine," and how is it different from a regular doctor?
A: At the New Genesis Center, we provide a "safe place" to uncover the clinical "why" behind your health problems rather than just giving you a pill to mask your symptoms. While traditional medicine often focuses on episodic issues and managing symptoms, functional medicine requires a detailed deep-dive into your entire health timeline to understand exactly how and why a condition developed. By finding the root cause, we partner with you to make the lifestyle and nutritional changes necessary to actually reverse the disease, rather than just manage it.
Q: Do you accept health insurance for your services?
A: No, we do not bill health insurance directly. Health insurance companies often do not cover the comprehensive time, advanced testing, and root-cause solutions required to resolve complex health issues. Operating as a self-pay clinic allows Patrice the freedom to provide highly personalized care. However, our services are HSA (Health Savings Account) eligible, and we also accept major credit cards and Care Credit.
Q: What kind of specialized testing do you offer?
A: We offer a wide range of advanced functional labs that go beyond the "standard" tests. This includes comprehensive stool testing to assess gut health, specialized saliva and urine testing, and extensive adrenal and hormone testing.
Q: How long does it take to see results?
A: True healing is a journey, not a quick fix. However, depending on the individual, patients suffering from inflammatory conditions, diabetes, or arthritis often begin to see initial improvements in as little as 14 days once we remove the things contributing to the problem and start using food as medicine. Reversing years of chronic disease takes time, but your body responds beautifully when you are willing to do the long-term work.
Q: What symptoms or conditions do you specialize in?
A: We specialize in helping "exhausted caretakers"—individuals suffering from "feel like crap" symptoms like chronic fatigue, brain fog, and severe digestive distress. Digestive issues are often our primary starting point, as healing the gut can rapidly improve secondary symptoms like chronic pain, arthritis, and overall inflammation.
Q: Do I have to stop seeing my regular primary care doctor?
A: Not at all! We highly encourage you to maintain a relationship with your primary care provider. We view healthcare as a team approach. Your primary doctor is excellent for traditional needs (like treating strep throat or doing Pap smears), while we function in a diagnostic and preventative capacity to help you eliminate chronic diseases.
Q: What is "Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy" (BHRT)?
A: BHRT uses hormones that are structurally identical to the natural hormones your body produces. Because they behave naturally in your body, they tend to have far fewer side effects than the artificial, synthetic hormones used in the past. We look at your complete hormone balance—including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid (both T3 and T4)—to naturally support both men and women experiencing energy loss, joint pain, or loss of muscle mass.
Q: Are the supplements you recommend different from store-bought ones?
A: Yes. The retail supplement industry is not strictly regulated, meaning the quality and integrity of store-bought vitamins vary dramatically. We only prescribe high-quality, clinical-grade supplements that are specifically chosen because they will actually "move the needle" in your health recovery, rather than just giving you another pill to swallow.
Q: What should I expect during my first consultation visit?
A: Your journey begins with our $299 Root Cause Consultation, which is a comprehensive, 90-minute deep dive. You will complete an extensive health history form beforehand so Patrice can review your medical history, surgical history, timeline of symptoms, and current stress levels. We ask a lot of questions to understand exactly what is going on in your life and your body. (Note: We proudly offer a 10% discount on this consultation for military members and couples!)
Q: Do you offer virtual appointments (Telehealth)?
A: Yes! While our physical clinic is in Thomasville, GA, we offer a specialized "Global Healing" track for our national and international patients. We can conduct your initial consultation and follow-up appointments virtually via Zoom.
Q: Will you make home visits or house calls?
A: We do consider house calls on a case-by-case basis. While it is not routine, if a local patient has mobility issues or circumstances that prevent them from leaving the house, we will certainly consider it to ensure they get the care they need.
Q: Do you offer packages for your other therapies and services?
A: Absolutely. Once your customized Root Cause Recovery Plan is established, we can create flexible service packages tailored to your specific needs. These packages can include our specialized in-office treatments, such as therapeutic massage, colon hydrotherapy, far-infrared sauna sessions, and targeted skincare facials.